11/15/2025
We tend to think of saṃskāras as something negative to erase.
But these habitual patterns are also the raw material for growth, and play an important role on your path to freedom.
Saṃskāras are the mental grooves created by repetitive thoughts and actions. Each repetition leaves a subtle imprint. Over time, those imprints become deeply ingrained habits—and those habits shape how we see and move through the world.
The Sanskrit roots of the word reflect this: saṃ means “well considered,” and kāra means “action.” A saṃskāra is the impression left by an intentional act.
So saṃskāras aren’t always obstacles. Unconscious ones can keep us stuck and reactive, but positive saṃskāras can lead us toward growth, steadiness, and conscious living.
Your yoga practice offers tools to recognize, understand, and soften the unhelpful saṃskāras—and to strengthen the beneficial ones. The more you act from awareness, the more your patterns align with your deepest truth and purest intentions.
Each time you practice with presence, act skillfully, and make choices to reduce harm, you’re strengthening the patterns that help you live more freely.�
Want to explore the foundational teachings of the Yoga Sūtras more deeply? Join Nicolai Bachman for a thoughtful reflection on how Patañjali’s insights can guide everyday life.
Visit: https://yogainternational.com/ecourse/player/patanjalis-yoga-sutras-illuminating-the-yogic-path/
